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-Every time I think I've struck autism central,this comes up. You need to die and also GET THICK SKIN.
+{{Infobox transcripts|content=
+*[[Hisao Nakai]]
+*[[Shiina Mikado]]
+*[[Shizune Hakamichi]]
+*[[Hanako Ikezawa]]
+|next = [[Tea Leaves]]
+|previous = N/A
+}}
+'''To Town, To Town''' is the first page of Act 2 on [[Hanako's route]]
+==Transcript==
+My alarm blares into my ears, only to be swiftly silenced by my fist.
+My body switches into auto-mode, carrying my subconscious self out of bed and into my uniform.
+As always, my bottles of pills sit on my desk patiently, waiting for me to take them and pick out my daily dosage of medicine; seventeen pills a day.
+Before I know it, I'm opening the door to class 3-3, glad to see that I'm not the oly one who seems to be a little hung-over from the festival week.
+Every face in the classroom looks gaunt. With the festival now over, it's as if everyone's life dreams have been achieved.
+With nothing left to live for, the students have relied on instincts alone to guide them to class.
+Or maybe I'm just reading to much into it.
+I slowly make my way to my seat, and it's only then that I realize why the room is so peaceful. the seat beside mine are blissfully empty; the world's loudest interpreter for the deaf has yet to arrive.
+Just as I am about to sit down, the door flies open, revealing a resplendent Misha; drills bobbing from the dramatic entrance and arms stretched towards the sky.
+'''Misha''' ''"Ya-hoo~! It's all over!"''
+It would appear that not everyone is affected by the post-festival depression.
+The rest of the class glare at her, obviously thinking the same thing I am.
+Misha, still frozen in the doorway with her arms still in the air, nervously looks around.
+It's obvious that she senses the foul mood, but can't work out the exactly waht to do.
+Suddenly, she jerks forward.
+'''Misha''' ''"Hey!"''
+As she stumbles into the classroom, she reveals Shizune, arm still extended from where she shoved Misha.
+'''Shizune''' ''"..."''
+'''Hisao''' ''"Thanks for the entertainment, but shouldn't you two take your seats?"''
+'''Shizune''' ''"..."''
+Still slightly embarrassed, Misha takes a few seconds to realize she has to translate.
+'''Misha''' ''"Oh! Yeah! Shiccan says she's not happy with you ditching us last week."''
+'''Misha''' ''"We were really busy!"''
+'''Hisao''' ''"Is that so? What about the stuff I already did for you two?"''
+'''Shizune''' ''"..."''
+'''Misha''' ''"She says that only counts for council members. Since you declined, she doesn't owe you anything."''
+Misha leans closer,and whispers conspiratorially into my ear.
+'''Misha''' ''"Actually, I think she's just a little sore that you didn't spend the day with her."''
+'''Misha''' ''"She's really thankful for your work last week though."''
+Sensing that she is being talked about, Shizune lightly raps her fingers on her desk until Misha turns around to face her.
+I can't understand any of the fast-paced signing that's going on, but from Shizune's slightly embarrassed expression, and Misha poorly contained laughter, I can guess.
+While this exchange is happening,the door opens once again, but this time at a much more reasonable pace.
+Hanako quietly enters the room, and pulls the door closed behind her.
+Peering out from under her hair, she quickly scans the classroom.
+Our eyes meet, and she suddenly stiffens. She closes her eyes, takes a deep breath,and then walks over to my desk.
+'''Hanako''' ''"G... good morning Hisao."''
+'''Hisao''' ''"Morning Hanako. You're a little late,aren't you?"''
+'''Hanako''' ''"I... was talking to Lilly."''
+'''Hanako''' ''"A-about today."''
+'''Hisao''' ''"Ah, so you've got her list then? We can leave straight after classes in that case."''
+'''Hanako''' ''"S-sure."''
+'''Hisao''' ''"I'm looking forward to it."''
+Hanako briefly flashes her embarrassed smile at me then hurries off to her seat.
+During classes, it becomes apparent that it's not only the students that are a little despondent after the festival.
+Mutou simply gives us a list of exercises from the textbook and then sits behind his desk. I totally forgot about the brief lunch period for a moment, such is the banality of the day.
+It's mind-numbing and everyone seems surprised when the bells signal the end of the lessons.
+As I am packing up my bags, Shizune and Misha flank and entrap me.
+'''Misha''' ''"Say, Hicchan, it's still not too late to join up. There's a lot of post-festival paperwork for us to complete..."''
+'''Hisao''' ''"Er, sorry Misha, I've... got plans..."''
+As if sensing the cue, Hanako appears behind me, holding a small bag,and trying to avoid eye contact with the outside world.
+Misha's eyes open wide, then she bursts into laughter.
+'''Misha''' ''"BWAHAHA! You move fast, don't you Hicchan~? We won't disturb your date any further! Bwahahaha!"''
+Behind the roaring Misha, I see Shizune taking far too little interest in the scene. I might be taking this the wrong way, but I think she's deliberately ignore me.
+I feel a gentle tug on my shirt, and turn to see Hanako's eyes fixed firmly on the floor.
+'''Hanako''' ''"L... let's..."''
+'''Hisao''' ''"Got ya. Shizune, Misha, I'll see you later."''
+'''Hisao''' ''"And I'm still not interested in the council."''
+'''Misha''' ''"Spoilsport."''
+Misha and Shizune retreat into the hallway, happily signing to each other.
+'''Hisao''' ''"Got all your stuff? Let's head off."''
+Floods of students pour out of the school gates and onto the road into town.
+It's a little wierd. It's almost a scene from any other high school, but the illusion fades because of the occasional wheelchair or missing limb.
+One thing I do notice is that nobody is alone.
+And, as Hanako and I pass through the gates, I notice that she closes the distance between us.
+Not enough to be considered ''"close"'', but she certainly isn't at her usual just-a-little-far position.
+I guess we're not familiar enough for her to get as close as she does with Lilly.
+However, even though she has moved a little closer to me physically,mentally she seems to have traveled a mile.
+Her hands clutched around the leather straps of her bag to the point of whitening her knuckles, her head down and her mouth pursed closed.
+She almost looks like she's being walked to the Principal's office for the first time. I try to stifle a giggle at the thought, but it is futile.
+'''Hanako''' ''"W-what's the matter...?''
+I guess there's no point in hiding it...
+'''Hisao''' ''"Sorry. For a second there it looked like you were getting in trouble."''
+'''Hanako''' ''"W-w-what do you mean?"''
+'''Hisao''' ''"I think you need to relax a little. We're not going too far, and it's only students around, right?"''
+'''Hanako''' ''"R-right."''
+It bothers me a little to see Hanako so worked up.
+'''Hisao''' ''"And you do this every week, don't you?"''
+'''Hanako''' ''"Y-yes. With Lilly."''
+Of course. ''"With Lilly"''. I wonder, has she ever left the school without her?
+It doesn't seems like much at first glance, but Hanako's dependence on Lilly is absurdly heavy.
+If she can't even handle leaving the school without her, how would she have managed to survive
+if the two had never met?
+Would she have found someone else to latch on to? And what drew her to Lilly?
+Was it her lack of eyesight, or was Lilly just kind enough to lend a hand?
+I wonder if anyone would have fit the bill.
+'''Hisao''' ''"Well, I'm here. Besides, we're not going far. It'll be over before you know it."''
+Hanako's knuckles slowly regain their color as she tries to hide a small smile but the effort of that seems to prevent further conversation.
+We travel, side by side down the winding road towards the town. The crowd of students thins as we continue along the sidewalk.
+Faster students rush ahead, and the less mobile ones fall behind, rarefying the crowd into nothingness.
+By the time we reach the convenience store we are practically alone.
+Using me as a shield between herself and the attendant, Hanako moves through the narrow aisles, adding an assortment of items to her basket.
+Bread, milk, tea... thyme?
+What kind of convenience store sells herbs?
+<center>
+Then again, nothing about this town seems normal, which may not be such a bad thing in retrospect.
+Everything is so different and uncomfortable; dwelling on such matters isn't really an option.
+When I think about that,it reminds me of Hanako.
+No matter how much you try, you can't escape her scars; they still interrupt my train of thought when I see them.
+As much as I don't want to admit it to myself, I think I'm forcing myself to try to ignore them.
+Not that I am scar-free myself. The jagged line down my sternum will never completely fade away.
+I just have the luxury of being able to hide it easily.
+But in a way, both of our scars remind me that we're all in this place for a reason.
+</center>
+...
+Hanako throws one last item into her basket then sheepishly holds it out to me, along with a few bank notes.
+'''Hanako''' ''"C-c-could you p-please..."''
+It takes me a second to understand what she's trying to say.
+'''Hisao''' ''"Oh, you want me to pay for this?"''
+She nods, but doesn't look up.
+I guess this task falls to Lilly on the usual occasions.
+'''Hisao''' ''"Sure. Lemme just grab a couple of things..."''
+Hastily I grab a few essential items for myself and head for the counter with Hanako in close tow.
+The attendant gives me an indifferent nod as he scans in the items.
+I suppose just ignoring us is one way to deal with the anomalies of Yamaku; they must get a lot of students here, being the closest store to the school.
+The staff must all have their own way of dealing with us. Or maybe they don't ;maybe it's only me who thinks twice about my unique schoolmates.
+Our transaction complete, Hanako and I head back out onto the street.
+The road is pretty much abandoned now. The students that were heading out have already left, and nobody has started returning just yet.
+And, with only the school ahead on the road, there doesn't seem to be anyone else around.
+The emptiness centainly reflects on Hanako; her arms by her sides each carrying a bag, her head no longer bowed, and back to the upright position...
+It's almost as if she were enjoying this walk.
+'''Hisao''' ''"So, why all these weird things? Mixed Spice? Why would you need that in school"''
+'''Hanako''' ''"I... sometimes ... like to m-make food."''
+'''Hisao''' ''"Well, yeah, so do I but... spices?"''
+'''Hisao''' ''"That's a little more advanced, don't you think?"''
+'''Hanako''' ''"N-not really."''
+'''Hisao''' ''"Well, I think it's cool. You'll have to teach me one day."''
+'''Hanako''' ''"S-sure."''
+She doesn't seem all that sure, but pushing the point doesn't seem all that wise.
+At the very least, she seems a great deal happier than she did on the walk down here.
+That alone makes me a little happier.
+Outside the girls' dorm, Hanako and I sort out the grocery bags with our respective purchases.
+In comparison, my things look positively plain.
+'''Hisao''' ''"I tell you, you're putting me to shame here..."''
+'''Hanako''' ''"N-no I'm not... I just..."''
+'''Hisao''' ''"I'm only joking."''
+'''Hisao''' ''"I have a stack of homework that I skipped last week, so I must leave now."''
+'''Hisao''' ''"Will you be all right getting that to your room?"''
+'''Hanako''' ''"Y-yeah."''
+'''Hisao''' ''"Sure? Okay then. I'll see you tomorrow."''
+'''Hanako''' ''"B-bye."''
+We part ways, and I return to my room.
+Piles of papers sit upon my desk, begging to be completed. With the entire ruckus of the last week, I've barely had any time to catch up.
+I tried to keep up with my studies while I was in the hospital, but some of this stuff I've never seen before, even back in my old school.
+Totally unprepared, I pop the top on a can of drink and get to work.

To Town, To Town: Difference between revisions